The Global Classroom

Climate Change and Armed Conflict Course Materials

Climate Change and Armed Conflict: About the Course

After a long and heated debate, there is scientific consensus on the existence of significant climate change and that humans have played a major role in its rise. The next major debate, and perhaps the one that really matters, is on the social implications of climate change.

The social consequences of climate change will not be uniform. The results will be mixed, with some countries benefitting and others suffering. Both the opportunity for gain and the avoidance of cost will lead to social dislocation and violence.

Any type of climate change causes social and economic dislocation, whether caused by humans or nature. It is logical to also assume that the faster the rate of climate changes, the greater the level of social dislocation. Climate change is however only one of many factors at play in inciting conflict. History, geography, demography, and many other factors are also important.

The historical lens of the course will cover many thousands of years. We will start looking at the origins of climate in human development thousands of years ago. We will also examine the impacts of climate that are of our making and that could last for thousands of years.

Climate change forecasts give a clue to where conflict is more likely to occur due to its influences. Given this “head start”, can decision-makers create policies to reduce the role of climate change in causing conflict?

We will explore these issues using traditional as well as a couple of new technology tools I will show you.